Pictures of the Renaissance. Creativity of the Italian artists of the Renaissance

Renaissance means "rebirth." This is a special period in European civilization. In the Renaissance there are many changes and discoveries. New continents are being studied, trade is developing, important things are being invented, such as paper, sea compass, gunpowder and many others. Changes in painting were also of great importance. Renaissance paintings have gained immense popularity.

The main styles and directions in the works of masters

The period of the Italian Renaissance was one of the most fruitful in the history of art. Masterpieces of a huge number of outstanding masters can be found today in various art centers. In Florence in the first half of the fifteenth century there were innovators. Their Renaissance paintings were marked by the beginning of a new era in the history of art.

At this time, science and art become very closely related. Artists scientists aspired to mastering the physical world. Painters tried to use more accurate ideas about the human body. Many artists aspired to realism. The style of the High Renaissance begins with Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, which he wrote for almost four years.

One of the most famous works

"The Last Supper" was written in 1490 for the refectory of the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. The canvas represents the last meal of Jesus with his disciples before he was seized and killed. Contemporaries who watched the work of the artist during this period, noted how he could draw from morning till night, without stopping even to eat. And then he could drop his painting for a few days and not go near it at all.

The artist was very worried about the image of Christ himself and the traitor of Judas. When the painting was finally finished, it was rightfully recognized as a masterpiece. "The Last Supper" and to this day is one of the most popular. Reproductions of paintings by Renaissance artists have always been in great demand, but this masterpiece is marked by countless copies.

A recognized masterpiece, or the Mysterious smile of a woman

Among the works created by Leonardo in the sixteenth century, there is a portrait called "Mona Lisa" or "La Gioconda". In modern times this is perhaps the most famous picture in the world. She became popular, mainly because of the elusive smile on the woman's face, depicted on the canvas. What led to such mystery? Skilful work of the master, the ability to skilfully shade the corners of the eyes and mouth? The exact nature of this smile can not be determined until now.

Outside the competition and other details of this picture. It is worth paying attention to the hands and eyes of a woman: how accurately the artist treated the smallest details of the canvas while writing it. No less interesting is the dramatic landscape in the background of the picture, a world in which everything seems to be in a state of flux.

Another famous representative of painting

No less famous representative of the Renaissance is Sandro Botticelli. This is a great Italian painter. His Renaissance paintings also have immense popularity among a wide audience. "Adoration of the Magi," "Madonna and Child on the throne," "Annunciation" - these works of Botticelli, dedicated to religious themes, have become huge achievements of the artist.

Another famous work of the master is "Madonna Magnificat". She became famous during the years of Sandro's life, as evidenced by numerous reproductions. Such canvases in the form of a circle were quite in demand in Florence of the fifteenth century.

A new twist in the work of the painter

Since 1490, Sandro has changed his style. It becomes more ascetic, the combination of colors is now much more reserved, often dark colors predominate. A new approach of the creator to writing his works is well seen in the "Crowning of Mary", "Lamentation of Christ" and other canvases depicting the Madonna and the Child.

The masterpieces written by Sandro Botticelli at the time, for example, the portrait of Dante, are deprived of landscape and interior backgrounds. One of the no less significant creations of the artist is "Mystical Christmas". The painting was written under the influence of the turmoil that took place at the end of 1500 in Italy. Many paintings of Renaissance artists have not only gained popularity, they have become an example for the next generation of painters.

The artist, whose paintings are surrounded by a halo of admiration

Rafael Santi da Urbino was not only an Italian artist, but also an architect. His paintings of the Renaissance cause admiration for the clarity of his form, the simplicity of composition and the visual achievement of the ideal of human grandeur. Along with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, he enters the traditional trio of the greatest masters of this period.

He lived a relatively small life, only 37 years. But during this time he created a huge number of his masterpieces. Some of his works are in the Vatican Palace in Rome. Not all viewers can see with their own eyes paintings by Renaissance artists. Photos of these masterpieces are available to everyone (some of them are presented in this article).

The most famous works of Raphael

From 1504 to 1507, Rafael created a series of "Madonna". The paintings are distinguished by charming beauty, wisdom and at the same time some kind of enlightened sadness. The most famous of his paintings was "Sistine Madonna". She is depicted floating in the sky and smoothly descending to the people with the Infant in her arms. It was this movement that the artist was able to portray very artistically.

This work was highly appreciated by many well-known critics, and they all came to the same conclusion that it was really rare and unusual. All the paintings of the Renaissance artists have a long history. But the "Sistine Madonna" has become the most popular due to its endless wanderings, since its inception. After passing through numerous trials, she finally took a worthy place among the expositions of the Dresden Museum.

Pictures of the Renaissance. Photo of famous canvases

And another famous Italian painter, sculptor, and also an architect who had a huge impact on the development of Western art, is Michelangelo di Simoni. Despite the fact that he is known, mostly as a sculptor, there are wonderful works of his painting. And the most significant of these is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

This work was carried out for four years. The space occupies about five hundred square meters and contains more than three hundred figures. In the very center are nine episodes from Genesis, divided into several groups. The creation of the earth, the creation of man and his fall. Among the most famous paintings on the ceiling are "The Creation of Adam" and "Adam and Eve".

No less famous is his work - "The Last Judgment". It is executed on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel. The mural depicts the second coming of Jesus Christ. Here, Michelangelo ignores the standard artistic conventions in the writing of Jesus. He depicted him with a massive muscular body structure, young and beardless.

The Importance of Religion, or the Art of the Renaissance

Italian paintings of the Renaissance became the basis for the development of Western art. Many of the popular works of this generation of creators have a huge influence on artists, which is preserved to this day. Great representatives of the art of that period focused their attention on religious themes, often worked on the order of wealthy patrons, including the Pope himself.

Religion literally penetrated the everyday life of people of this era, deeply embedded in the minds of artists. Virtually all religious paintings are in museums and art depositories, but reproductions of Renaissance paintings, related not only to this subject, can be found in many institutions and even ordinary homes. People will endlessly admire the works of famous masters of that period.